Variable-speed transmission mechanism.



H. R. GEER. VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED Junie, 1909.

948,091; Patented Feb.1,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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H. R. GEER. VARIABLE SPEED TBANSMISSION MEGHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 19, 1909.

948,091. Patentd Feb. 1, 1910.

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, V I 4 I Z "Z Z] un rnn'stratrns arana? .HARRY lannnennmor JOHNSIOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To JOHN D. sNowDEN, or JOHNSTOWLLLPENNSYLVANIA.

VARIABIE SPEED TRANSMISSION MECHANISM.

Be it known that I, HARRY REED. GEEK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at J ohnstown, in the county of Cambria and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and. useful Variable-Speed Transnnsslon Mechanlsm, of which the followlng 1s a specification.

This 1nvent1on relates to a variable speed 1 transmission mechanism designed more particularly for motor vehicles, although not limited thereto, and its object is to provide an improved friction drive havin a. fwide speed variation, which is entirely foot controlled, thus leaving the operators hands A free for steering and engine control.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a mechanism of the kind stated by which the change from one speed to another is made smoothly and without 1erks, and i also to provide a reversing mechanism which offers no frictional resistance when not in.

use.

are obtained by anovel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the drawings hereto annexed in which Figure 11s an end view of the mechanism. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation of one of the springs employed for holding one set. of friction disks in properposition. Fig.

4 is a section taken through the driven shaft showing one of the driven friction disks thereon. Fig. 5 is a similar section taken through the drive shaft and showing one of the drive friction disks thereon. Fig. 6

i is a section on the line 66 of Fig. 2. Fig.

7 is a section on the line 7--7 of Fig. 6. Fig. '8 is a view similar to the preceding showing the parts in another position.

Referring to the drawings, 10 denotes a portion of theengine base having a hearing or the crank shaft 11. i The speed transmis sion mechanism to be hereinafter described .is inclosed in a suitable casing comprising a stationary portion. 12 which is bolted or of the casing overlap, whereby a dust-proof inclosure forvthe mechanism mounted therein is hard.

Specification of Letters Patent.

These and other objects and advantages Patented Feb. 1, 1910.

In the end walls of the portion 12 of the casing are bearings 15 and 16 respectively. In the bearing 15 is supported .a tubular shaft 17 which is in axial alinement with the crank or drive shaft 11. The latter shaft extends at one end into the bore of the shaft 17 said end and the bore being squared so that the two shafts willrotate together.

Any other suitable coupling means between the shafts may be provided.

Formed integral with, or rigidly secured on the shaft 17, perpendicular to its axis, is a disk 18 which abuts on one side against the bearing 15. On said shaft is also splined a friction clutch member comprising a disk l 19 having an elongated hub 20 which is supported in the bearing 16.

On the hubruns loosely the other clutch member, said member comprising a disk 21 having a pan rim 22 adapted to be engaged by the conical rim 23 of the member 19. Formed integral with, or rigidly secured to the disk 21 is a rooved pulley 24.- which abuts against the earing 16, and is held thereagainst by a finger 25 bolted to the portion 12 of the casing, and extending into the groove of the ulley. Inasmuch as the disk 19 is splined 1n the shaft 17 the rotation of the latter will be imparted to the pulley 2 1 when the parts 22 and 23 a are in frictional engagement with each other.

On the shaft 17, between the disks 18 and 19, are mounted disks 26 whichextend perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, and are splined thereon. gradually decreasing in thickness from their centers toward their peripheries, and the faces of the disks 18 and 19 are correspondingly inclined so that tapered spaces are formed between said disks 18, 26 and 19, the taper being in the direction of the axis of the shaft 17.

In the bore of the shaft 17 is mounted a stem 27 having at its inner end a head 28. The opposite end of the stem screws into the outer end of the hub 20, said end of the hub having a reduced portion 29 extending outside of the casing 12, and provided with a screw-threaded opening to receive the stem. The bore of the hub has a shoulder which abuts against one end of the shaft 17 said end of the shaft being closed with the excep tion of an opening through which the. stem loosely passes. Between this end of the Said disks 26 are tapered,

around the stem 27, said spring serving to back up the hub 20, and yieldingly press the disks 18, 26 and 19 together. The spring load is removed from the disks by a foot lever 31 operating through a forked lever 32 mounted on a rock shaft 33, and engageable with a trunnion ring 34 mounted on the hub 20. On the portion 12 of the casing is a bracket 35 which supports the shaft 33.

The end walls of the portion 13 of the easing have bearings 36 and 37 respectively in which the driven shaft 38 is mounted. On this shaft is splined a series of disks 39 having adjacent to their peripheries concentric ribs 40. These ribs are located on both faces of the disks, and they are all spaced the same distance from the centers of the disks.

The disks 39 are so positioned on the shaft 38, that they may enter the spaces between the disks on the drive shaft when the driven shaft is swung in that direction. The disks on the driven shaft have hubs of sufiicient length to hold them perpendicular to the axis of said shaft, and the hub of the disk at one end of the series abuts against the bearing 36. The disk at the other end of the series has an elongated hub to prevent binding on the shaft by side pressureagainst the 1 disk. On this hub is a shoulder 41 which is for a purpose to be presently described. On the driven shaft 38 is also mounted a grooved pulley 42 having a hub 43, one end of which abuts against the bearing 37. This pulley is in line with the pulley 24, and is keyed on the shaft 38. In the other end of the hub 43 is a recess in which seats a spring 44 which is coiled around the shaft 36, and bears at its other end against the shoulder 41.

Between the disks 39 are mounted light springs 45 which are for the purpose of assistingthe sliding movement of said disks on the shaft 38 when they are wedged apart by .the disks on the drive shaft as will be presently described. The spring 44 is of sulficient strengthto compress the springs 45, and thus keeps the disks 39 in alinement with the spaces between the disks on the drive shaft. The springs 45 are cup-shaped disks which are keyed on the shaft 38, and located between the hubs of the disks 39. One of these spring disks is provided for each disk 39 except the one having its hub pressed by the spring 44. The spring disks are slitted radially as indicated at 46, said slits extending inwardly from the peripheries a suitable distance, whereby spring tongues are formed which press at their free ends against the faces of the disks 39.

The portion 13 of the casing is swung on its pivot 14 by a foot lever 47 through a connecting rod 48. One end of the latter is connected to the foot lever, and the other end to a bracket arm 49 on said part 13 of the casing. The shaft 38 is connected by a universal joint 50 to a shaft section 51 connected to the parts to be driven. This joint is provided in order that the'portion 13 of the casing may be swung as stated, the shaft 38 swinging therewith. The pulleys 24 and 42 are connected by a belt or chain 52. In the groove of the pulley 42 is mounted a split spring ring 53 having a normal tend ency to spread, the purpose of which will be presently described.

In use, variable forward movement is had by swinging the portion 13 of the casing with the shaft 38, and the disks thereon in the direction of the disks on the drive shaft, between the latter a greater or less distance from the center of the drive shaft, according to the speed desired, the speed decreasing as the disks on the driven shaft approach the center of the drive shaft. Reversal is accomplished by disengaging the disks, and bring ing the clutch disks 19 and 21 together, which is done by the foot lever 31, pressure thereon, through the forked lever 32 sliding the disk 19 into locking engagement with the disk 21. When the shaft 38 and its disks are swung in the direction of the drive shaft, the distance between said shafts is shortened, and the belt 52 becomes slack. This slack is taken up by the ring 53 which expands, and thus prevents the belt from slipping out of the groove of the pulley 42. 111 this position, the belt lies loosely in the groove of the pulley 42 as shown in Fig. 8. \Vhen the driven shaft is swung away from the drive shaft, the belt is again tightened which' constricts the ring,and the belt then properly engages the groove of the pulley 42 in order to impart motion thereto when the clutch disks 19 and 21 are properly connected. This constriction of the ring is effected by the tightening of the belt, and when the shaft 38 is again swung in the direction of the drive shaft, the ring expands and automatically disengages the belt from the pulley 42. The reversing mechanism therefore offers no frictional resistance when not in use. 'Both series of disks are movable endwise on their shafts, and the springs 45 assist the driven disks in their endwise sliding movement when they are wedged apartby the drive disks, the latter also spreading in order that the driven disks may enter therebetween the required distance to obtain the desired speed. The spring 44 is of sufficient strength to compress the springs 45, and thus aline the driven disks when they are out of engagement with the drive disks. The disks 43 are solely for automatically lining the driven disks as stated, and not to add to the driving efficiency. The spreading movement of the drive disks is opposed by the spring 30, and as the stem 27 around which the spring is coiled extends to the outside of the hub, it is easily accessible for the purpose of adjusting the tension of the spring. This adjustment is effected by means of a nut 54 i erks when speed changes are made.

screwed on the outer end ofthe stem. Bee.

a washer 55, which also serves to holdthe trunnion ring 84in place.

iThe mechanism herein described provldes a transmission device having a wide speed variation, without employing toothed gears which precludes. thepossibility of stripping of teeth or clutch jaws, as well as annoying The change fromone speed to another is gradual andsmootlnand by the ribs e0 an increased efiiciency in thefriction drive is had.

If desired, the; reversing mechanism may be; dispensed with, and it may also be desirable, for road clearance, to mount the drive and drivenshaft vertically instead of horizontally as'shown in the drawings. Various other changes and modifications may also be resorted to without a departure from the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Ina variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts 1 whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of'one seriesabeing adapted to enter between the disks of the other series and to frictionally engage thesame, and means for alining the diskswhen they are out of engagement.

2. In a variable speedmechanism, a pair of:shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each. shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter *between the disks of the other series, and to frictionally engage the same, the disks of one series having an endwise movement on their shaft when brought into engagement with the.

disks of the other series, and yielding means opposing said endwise movement.

3. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter between the disks of the other series, and to frictionally engage the same, and the disks of one series having an endwise movement on their shaft when brought into engagement with the disks of the other series, yielding means engageable with the endwise movable disks to assist said endwise movement in one direcwhereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter the disks of the other. series, and tofrictionally engage the same, and the. disksv of .one; series being hubbed-to space their faces apart, and having an endwise movement on their shaft when brought into engagement with the disks of the other series, and yielding means opposing said endwise movement.

5. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter between the disks of the other series and to frictionally engage the same, and the disks of one series being hubbed to space their faces apart, and having an endwise movement on their shaft when brought into engagement with the disks of the other series, springs clamped between the hubbed disks, said springs engaging the faces of said disks, and serving to assist their endwise movement in one direction, and a yielding means opposing the endwise movetheir shaft when brought into engagement with the disks of the other series, cupped disks between the hubbed disks, and having spring tongues engageable with the faces of said hubbed disks, said spring tongues tending to assist the endwise movement of the disks in one direction, and yielding means opposing said endwise movement.

7 In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each, shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter between the disks of the other series and to frictionally engage the same, the disks of the respective serles having an endwise move ment on their shafts when brought into engagement with each other, and yielding means opposing said endwise movement.

'8. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung. toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of the respective series being normally in alinement, and being movable endwise on their shafts, and the disks of one series being adapted to enter between the disks of the other series and to frictionally engage the same, and yielding means opposing the endwise movement of the disks, and returning them to their normal position when disengaged. I

9. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, one of said shafts being tubular, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter between the disks of the other series, and to frictionally engage the same, one of the disks of the tubular shaft being fixed thereto, and the other disks of said shaft having an endwise movement, a spring confined in the tubular shaft, and a stem mounted in the shaft and engageable by the spring, said stem being connected to the outer one of the endwise movable disks, and said spring tending to press the said disks in the direction of the fixed disk.

10. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward or from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter between the disks of the other series and to frict-ionally engage the same, one of the disks of one series being fixed to its shaft, and the remainder of said series being movable endwise, and yielding means for pressing the said movable disks in the direction of the fixed disk.

11. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series being adapted to enter between the disks of the other series, and to frictionally engage the same, the disk at the end of one of the series being fixed to its shaft, and the disk at the opposite end of said series having an endwise movement on said shaft and being provided with an elongated hub, and the intermediate disks of said series being also movable on the shaft, and yielding means connected to said elongated hub for pressing the movable disks against the fixed disk.

12. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a casing having bearings in which one of the shafts is supported, and said casing having a hinged overlapping portion provided with bearings in which the other shaft is supported, said shaft being movable toward and from the other shaft by the swing of the hinged portion of the casing, and variable speed mechanism carried by the shafts and actuated by the swinging of the last mentioned shaft in the direction of the other shaft.

13. In a variable speed mechanism, a pair of shafts, a support for one of said shafts whereby it may be swung toward and from the other shaft, a series of disks mounted on each shaft to turn therewith, the disks of one series having concentric ribs on their faces, and adapted to enter between the disks of the other series, the disks of the last mentioned series decreasing in thickness in the direction of their peripheries.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

HARRY REED GEER. Witnesses:

H. B. MAINHART, C. E. JENKINS. 

